Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon & Illustrated by Henri Sorensen - Review & Giveaway

About the book: This moving tribute to the power of the human spirit to unite people even in times of battle is based on an actual event from World War I.

It is cold and clear on Christmas Eve night in 1914. Francis Tolliver and his fellow British soldiers are holed up in muddy trenches along the Western Front. Their enemies—German soldiers—lie in wait just across a field known as "No Man's Land."

This haunting story is based on an event in World War I known as the Christmas Truce.

My thoughts:  Artist Henri Sorensen has beautifully illustrated Christmas in the Trenches with the drab colors that depict the drabness of war - though the colors are subdued "Christmas" red and green - as well as the bright cheeriness of the home of young Thomas.  Beautiful art to bring to our heart the beauty of the story.

Christmas in the Trenches begins with an elderly gentleman telling his grandson, Thomas, the unbelievable story of the enduring Christmas Spirit that brought two opposing armies into  "no-man's-land" to share a peaceful interlude on Christmas when they stepped out of the trenches into the fellowship of their fellowman.

The story written in 1989 is based on the actual event that occurred in 1914 during the "Great War" - WWI.  " Although Francis Tolliver is a fictional character, the event depicted in the ballad is true. John McCutcheon met some of the German soldiers involved in this Christmas story when he toured in Belgium." ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_the_Trenches).

The song and story are a beautiful telling by John McCutcheon that touches on a war era that now is fading into the background of World history.  This children's storybook is a good introduction to that era as well as a telling that the human spirit can surpass the evil that is war.

This lovely hardcover book also includes a CD in the back cover slip of the author beautifully reading the story as well as singing his story-song of Christmas in the Trenches and Silent Night (both in English and German).  A wonderful extra!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Begins Nov. 1   ENDS Nov. 15  12:01 a.m. EST)
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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of Christmas in the Trenches by Peachtree Publishers on behalf of the author in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review.